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Title 8, Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-110

§1203 Reentry Permit

Title 8 › CHAPTER 12 — IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY › SUBCHAPTER II — IMMIGRATION › Part III — Issuance of Entry Documents › § 1203

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

You can apply for a reentry permit if you are a lawful permanent resident, or if you were admitted under clause 6 of section 3 of the Immigration Act of 1924 between July 1, 1924, and July 5, 1932, and you plan to leave the United States only temporarily. Your application must say how long you will be gone and why. You must swear the application is true and follow the form and photo rules set by immigration regulations. If the Attorney General finds you kept the required status, that your application is honest, and that your trip would not harm U.S. interests, the Attorney General may issue a permit. The permit can be valid for up to two years and cannot be renewed. You can use it to seek reentry more than once while it is valid. You must show it to the immigration officer when you return and turn it in after it expires. The permit serves in place of a visa while you hold it, but otherwise only shows you were on a temporary visit.

Full Legal Text

Title 8, §1203

Aliens and Nationality, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Application; contents
(1)Any alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or (2) any alien lawfully admitted to the United States pursuant to clause 6 of section 3 of the Immigration Act of 1924, between July 1, 1924, and July 5, 1932, both dates inclusive, who intends to depart temporarily from the United States may make application to the Attorney General for a permit to reenter the United States, stating the length of his intended absence or absences, and the reasons therefor. Such applications shall be made under oath, and shall be in such form, contain such information, and be accompanied by such photographs of the applicant as may be by regulations prescribed.
(b)Issuance of permit; nonrenewability
If the Attorney General finds (1) that the applicant under subsection (a)(1) has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence, or that the applicant under subsection (a)(2) has since admission maintained the status required of him at the time of his admission and such applicant desires to visit abroad and to return to the United States to resume the status existing at the time of his departure for such visit, (2) that the application is made in good faith, and (3) that the alien’s proposed departure from the United States would not be contrary to the interests of the United States, the Attorney General may, in his discretion, issue the permit, which shall be valid for not more than two years from the date of issuance and shall not be renewable. The permit shall be in such form as shall be by regulations prescribed for the complete identification of the alien.
(c)Multiple reentries
During the period of validity, such permit may be used by the alien in making one or more applications for reentry into the United States.
(d)Presented and surrendered
Upon the return of the alien to the United States the permit shall be presented to the immigration officer at the port of entry, and upon the expiration of its validity, the permit shall be surrendered to the Service.
(e)Permit in lieu of visa
A permit issued under this section in the possession of the person to whom issued, shall be accepted in lieu of any visa which otherwise would be required from such person under this chapter. Otherwise a permit issued under this section shall have no effect under the immigration laws except to show that the alien to whom it was issued is returning from a temporary visit abroad; but nothing in this section shall be construed as making such permit the exclusive means of establishing that the alien is so returning.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Clause (6) of section 3 of the Immigration Act of 1924, referred to in subsec. (a), which was classified to section 203(6) of this title, was repealed by section 403(a)(2) of act
June 27, 1952. See section 1101(a)(15)(E) of this title. This chapter, referred to in subsec. (e), was in the original, “this Act”, meaning act
June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163, known as the Immigration and Nationality Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1101 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1981—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–116 substituted “two years from the date of issuance and shall not be renewable” for “one year from the date of issuance: Provided, That the Attorney General may in his discretion extend the validity of the permit for a period or periods not exceeding one year in the aggregate”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–116 effective Dec. 29, 1981, see section 21(a) of Pub. L. 97–116, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title. Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and

Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service,

Transfer of Functions

, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

8 U.S.C. § 1203

Title 8, Aliens and Nationality

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110